Improvement in easels



F. S. FROST.

Easel. i No. 215,731. Patented May 27, 18T-9.y

g @l n M Q N UNITED STATES PATENT C )FFICE FRANCIS S. FROST, OFARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT |N EASELS,V

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,731, dated May 27,1879; application led January 18, 1879.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS S. FROST, of Arlington, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Easels, which improvement is fully setA forth in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isa view of an easel with my iinprovement. Fig. 2 is a front View, Fig. 3a side View, and Fig et a rear view, of my improvement. Fig. 5 is asection of the frame above the upper bar.

My invention is an improvement upon that patented to me June 5, 187 7No. 191,579 5 and consists in a different adaptation, construction, andapplication of that invention, so as to make it with fewer parts and atmuch less cost. It is to be applied to the central post of an easel, thefront frame of which is constructed with three upright pieces and twocross-bars.

A is the central upright post, to which my contrivance is applied, (theuprights B B and cross-bars C and D forming the remainder of the frame,)and it has grooves a on each side,

as shown in Fig. 5, and notches b down the center of its front atintervals, to form a ratchet. I'prefer to make the ratchet in this watTfor cheapness.

E is a clasp, trmly secured to the shelf` G, having lugs e e at itsupper and lower ends, which tit into and slide in the grooves a. H is apawl, having a weighted handle, and it is journaled to the clasp Ebeneath the shelf.

On raising the shelf, the weight of the handle causes the pawl to engagewith the notches and hold it in position; and to lower the shelf thepawl is disengaged by raising the handle; and in whatever position theshelf may be set the clasp E prevents it from Wabbling.

What I claim as my invention is- The shelf-supporting clasp E, providedat its top and bottom with the side lugs e e, in combination with thecenter post A, having the grooves a a and the ratchet b therein, allconstructed and adapted to operate substantially as described.

FRANCIS S. FROST.

Witnesses:

OHAs. F. SLEEPER, ELLA A. LAWRENCE.

